Sheep and Goat Containment Cage (Sheep Cage)

ABSTRACT

A rectangular shaped animal trapping cage with one side of the cage configured in two segments that can be swung toward the inside of the cage and locked to facilitate the immobilization of sheep and goat sized animals.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The Sheep and Goat Containment Cage is a rectangle shaped box made out of steel that is approximately 48 inches long, 18 inches wide (inside dimension), 40 inches tall, weighs approximately 200 lbs, and has fittings on all four outside corners than enable connection with readily available standard sheep and goat panels. It is constructed out of 1¼ and 1 inch square tubing and various small diameter steel pipe (1, ¾, ½). The cage has a guillotine¹ entry door on one side (the 18 inch dimension) and a head gate² on the opposite side, which is also hinged so that it can be used as an exit door. Each of the other two sides of the cage (48 inch dimensions) also have exit/access doors, one being a standard exit/access door 20 inches wide and the other door encompassing 30 inches of the other 48 inch side of the device. The 30 inch long exit door on the left side of the cage is constructed with special features that enable it to also serve as a confining gate, which enables the user to restrain sheep and goats to facilitate the application of medicine as well as sorting individual animals from larger groups. ¹ A guillotine door is a door that opens and closes by vertical movement. The door moves up (open) by applying force from above and down (closed) by allowing gravity to overcome the force otherwise holding the door open.² A headgate is a gate or wall that has an opening in the midsection that is large enough for an animal to believe he can escape through, but has a mechanism that enables the operator to reduce the opening against an animal's neck once the animal's head goes through the gate but before the animal's shoulders go through the gate.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Sheep and goats are becoming a popular livestock of choice for many small commercial ranchers as well as week-end ranch enthusiasts and market prices are continuing to increase for these ruminant species in response to the increasing demand. Because of sheep and goats' smaller physical size, lower cost per individual, higher reproduction rates, and ability to forage on brush and other low quality vegetation, these animals are often seen as a good fit for owners of small parcels of land near urban centers that may not have the expertise and staff to manage physically larger cattle. However, precisely because sheep and goats are smaller animals than cattle, producers have to deal with a larger number of individual animals in order to approach the economic potential of raising cattle. In addition the nature of sheep and goat's digestive and reproductive systems requires additional management activities to treat internal parasites and assist with birthing. As with the productive management of any domesticated livestock, the heart of a management system to deal with sheep and goats needs involves a process to concentrate the animals in a small space and then employ the use of a chute or cage to restrain the animal so the owner can address the maintenance needs. However, most livestock equipment on the market today is built specifically to handle cattle, thus there is limited availability of equipment specifically designed to be used for sheep and goat sized animals. As a result of this, many sheep and goat operators are forced to either use makeshift handling equipment or try to adapt larger and more expensive equipment that was designed for the cattle industry.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Sheep and Goat Containment Cage is constructed of steel tubing and uses a series of simple hinged or gravity doors to accomplish entry, restraint, and release of any animal of the general size of a sheep or goat. Unlike similar livestock appliances designed for cattle, the Sheep and Goat Containment Cage is light enough to be lifted into the back of a pickup and transported to the intended location of use, and also includes removable wheels so that it can easily be rolled to the operator's exact optimal location. Once the desired placement has been accomplished, the wheels can be removed and stowed in the device for future use.

The Sheep and Goat Containment Cage is able to efficiently accomplish its intended use because of the innovative design of one of the sides of the device, called the confining gate. The confining gate consists of 2 separate segments, whose placement is moved through the various animal handling processes, conforming the inside of the rectangular main structure of the Sheep and Goat Containment Cage as a simple rectangular to facilitate entry and trapping of the animal at the beginning of the cycle and then culminating into total immobilization of the animal inside the Sheep and Goat Containment Cage by changing where the confining gate segments are latched.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

Included among the objects and advantages of the invention are the ability to operate the device by a single individual, without the assistance from other individuals. This is enabled by using the rope to operate the vertical entry door from a remote location, allowing a single user to herd and trap an animal in the device. Another object of the invention is to perform all operator required actions, once the animal has entered the device, from a single location. This is enabled by convenient placement of all of levers, latch chains and latch pins within reach from a single location near the front of the device. A further object of the invention is to be able to use the same device to restrain animals of varying height, width and length. This is accomplished by the design and configuration of the two segmented confining gate, which can be placed in an almost unlimited number of positions within a few seconds, effectively changing the shape of the inside of the device in which the animal stands to whatever the operator desires. Another advantage of the device is the inclusion of the face gate, providing for complete restraint of the animal's face, which is the application location for most of the medical/maintenance needs being administered.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The device is depicted in 8 drawings. FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 address the various profile views of the device and depict the more complex door configurations in both open and closed positions. FIG. 8 is a view from above the device with the head gate side facing the top of the page and depicts the operation of the two segmented confining gate in all cycles of operation (FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E, 8F, 8G).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The operation of the Sheep and Goat Containment Cage is summarized as follows, with the operator positioning himself against the side of the regular exit/access door near the head gate, across from the confining gate. Using the rope and pulley, the operator raises the guillotine entry gate and then lowers it after an animal enters. From this location, the head gate window in opened and the animal is encouraged to place its head through the head gate window, then the head gate window is closed against the animal's neck and secured with latch chain. The operator then reaches across the Sheep and Goat Containment Cage and lifts the latch pin from the end of the first segment of the confining gate (near the guillotine entry gate) and swings the end of the first segment of the confining gate toward the operator. Using the same latch pin, the operator pins the end of the first segment of the confining gate into a special pin/slide assembly. This maneuver immediately changes the inside shape of the Sheep and Goat Containment Cage from a rectangle to smaller rectangle and a triangle, partially confining the animal. The operator then reaches across the Sheep and Goat Containment Cage and lifts the latch pin from the end of the second segment of the confining gate (approximately 20 inches from the head gate, where hinges are strategically located) and pulls both segments of the confining gates towards him until the Sheep and Goat Containment Cage shape is further reduced into a trapezoid and an even smaller triangle, depending on the size of the animal. The confining bar is then raised over the top of the either segment of the confining gate (regardless of where it is) to hold the confining gate in the desired position, then the face gate bar is moved from the vertical to horizontal position. At this point, the animal is completely immobilized, not being able to move from side to side or backup due to the confining gate position; and, not being able to move forward due to the animal's position in the head gate window and the position of the face gate bar. After the animal is in this position, the operator has full and unfettered access to the animal's mouth, eyes, and ears by standing or sitting in front of the Sheep and Goat Containment Cage. Additionally, the regular exit/access door can now be opened to gain access to the animal's front shoulders and abdomen. Finally, the rear of the animal can be accessed through the 5 inch gaps between the steel bars of the Sheep and Goat Containment Cage's rectangular main structure. All of the above access to the animals various body locations can be made without fear of the animal being able to move and injure himself or the operator.

After the animal has been treated/inspected, the confining bar is released and swung out of the way, both segments of the confining gate are moved back to their initial positions and pinned, the face gate bar its returned to its vertical position and the head gate window is opened so that the animal can back out of the head gate window. At this point, the operator makes a determination as to how the animal should be grouped, then releases him out of the one of the three different exit gates; (1) regular exit/access door, (2) first segment of the confining gate, or (3) head gate. This multiple exit door, concept provides additional functionality for the Sheep and Goat Containment Cage in that once the animal enters, regardless of the treatment accomplished, the animal can be sorted into various management groups (sell, maintain in separate area for additional treatment, return to pasture, etc).

Drawings

FIG. 1—Right Side (includes Exit Gate #3)

-   -   The regular exit door 1 is attached to column 1 by hinge 4.         Regular exit door 1 is opened by raising drop pin 2 so that it         clears drop pin receiver 3 then regular exit 1 door is swung out         from under top bar 6 away from main structure. Drop pin 2 is         lowered back into receiver 3 while regular exit door 1 is held         open. Regular exit door 1 is closed by raising drop pin 2 so         that it clears receiver 3 and regular exit door 1 is swung to         return under top bar 6 then drop pin 2 is lowered into receiver         3 to secure regular exit door in the closed position.

FIG. 2—Left Side (includes Two Segmented Confining Gate/Exit Gate #2)

-   -   The confining gate serves as a confining gate when allowed to         swing inside the main structure and also an exit gate when         allowed to swing outside of the main structure. The first         segment confining gate 13 is attached to second segment         confining gate 11 with hinge 4 between column 14 and column 15.         To operate as an exit door, first segment confining gate 13 is         opened by raising drop pin 18 so that it clears receiver 19 then         first segment confining gate 13 is swung out from under top bar         6 away from main structure. Drop pin 18 is lowered back into         receiver 19 while first segment confining gate 13 is held open.         First segment confining gate 13 is closed by raising drop pin 18         so that it clears receiver 19 and first segment confining gate         13 is swung to return under top bar 6 then drop pin 18 is         lowered into receiver 19 to secure first segment confining gate         13 in the closed position. To operate both first segment         confining gate 13 and second segment confining gate 11 in the         complete confining gate function, see FIG. 8 and the associated         description.

FIG. 3—Back Side (includes entry gate shown in open position)

-   -   The entry door 23 travels vertically between column 24 and         column 25. Entry door 23 is opened by pulling on rope 22 which         is threaded through pulley 21. Force is applied to rope 22 until         entry door 23 is raised to contact top frame 26.     -   Once entry door 23 makes contact with top frame 26, tension is         maintained on rope 22 until animal enters main structure. After         animal is inside main structure, entry door 23 is closed by         reducing tension of rope 22 and allowing gravity to overcome         entry gate 23 position in contact with top frame 26 so that         entry gate 23 travels down to closed position.

FIG. 4—Back Side (includes entry gate shown in closed position)

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6—Front Side [Exit Gate #1] (includes head gate door, with head gate window shown closed in FIG. 5 and head gate widow open in FIG. 6)

-   -   Head gate door 27 is attached to column 9 with hinges 4. Head         gate door 27 is opened by raising drop pin 28 so that it clears         receiver 29 then head gate door 27 is swung out from under top         bar 6 away from main structure. Drop pin 28 is lowered back into         receiver 29 while head gate door 27 is held open. Head gate door         27 is closed by raising drop pin 28 so that it clears receiver         29 and head gate door 27 is swung to return under top bar 6 then         drop pin 28 is lowered into receiver 29 to secure head gate door         27 in the closed position.     -   Head gate window 30 rotates at Head gate Window pin 31. Head         gate window 30 is opened by raising chain 32 from chain latch 33         and head gate window lever 34 is moved away from center of main         structure. Animal's head and neck are directed between head gate         post 27 and head gate window 30. Head gate window 30 is closed         by moving head gate window lever 34 toward main structure until         head gate window 30 contacts animals neck. Head gate window 30         is secured in closed position by engaging chain 32 into chain         latch 33.

FIG. 7—Front Side [Exit Gate #1] (includes head gate door, with head gate window shown closed and face bar shown closed)

-   -   Head gate window 30 is shown in closed position. Face bar 41         rotates at Face bar pin 43. Face bar 41 is closed by pushing         Face bar Handle 42 to the left down to the horizontal position         then pivoting Face bar handle 42 toward Head gate window 30         which latches face bar 41 in the horizontal position.

FIG. 8—Top Side (includes views of each cycle/position of the Two Segmented Confining Gate)

The various cycles of the confining gate segments are depicted in FIG. 6. FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D depict the first segment confining gate 13 and second segment confining gate 11 as they move through various positions to accomplish the immobilization of sheep and goat sized animals. FIGS. 6E and 6F depict alternate positions of first segment confining gate 13 and second segment confining gate 11 that can be used for faster but less immobilization of animals (6E) and confining unusually large specimens (6F). Finally, FIG. 6G depicts the use of the first segment confining gate 13 as an alternate exit gate, which is more completely described in the description associated with FIG. 2.

-   -   FIG. 8A. (Stage 0 position) Animal contained in main structure.         First segment confining gate 13 and second segment confining         gate 11 in closed position.     -   FIG. 8B. (Stage 1 position) Front of animal has been secured         with head gate window 30. First segment confining gate 13 is         used to reduce the area inside main structure by raising latch         pin 18 from receiver 19 and swinging first segment confining         gate 13 across main structure and placing latch pin 18 through         first segment confining slide 37 and back into receiver 19.     -   FIG. 8C. (Stage 2 position) Front of animal has been secured         with head gate window 30. First segment confining gate 13 is         used to reduce the area inside main structure by raising latch         pin 18 from receiver 19 and swinging first segment confining         gate 13 across main structure and placing latch pin 18 through         first segment confining slide 37 and back into receiver 19.         Latch pin 16 is raised from receiver 17 and stowed in receiver         40, then second segment confining gate 11 is swung toward the         inside of the main structure. As first segment confining gate 13         and second segment confining gate 11 move toward inside of main         structure, first segment confining slide 37 allows first segment         confining gate 13 and second segment confining gate 11 to         accommodate almost any angle of movement between first segment         confining gate 13 and second segment confining gate 11,         providing the ability to further reduce the area inside main         structure. Confining bar 35 is placed in first confining bar         receiver 8 and confining bar clamp 36 is adjusted to hold first         segment confining gate 13 and second segment confining gate 11         in desired position.     -   FIG. 8D. (Extreme Stage 2 position). Same as described in FIG.         6C but demonstrates the ability to completely immobilize animal         by adjusting confining bar clamp 36 on confining bar 35 until         first segment confining gate 13 and second segment confining         gate 11 contact the animals body.     -   FIG. 8E. (Speed Stage 2 position). Front of animal has been         secured with head gate window 30. Latch pin 16 is raised from         receiver 17 and stowed in receiver 40, then first segment         confining gate 13 and second segment confining gate 11 are swung         toward the inside of the main structure. As first segment         confining gate 13 and second segment confining gate 11 move         toward inside of main structure, confining slide 38 allows first         segment confining gate 13 and second segment confining gate 11         to accommodate almost any angle of movement between first         segment confining gate 13 and second segment confining gate 11,         providing a quick side to side confinement of the animal.     -   FIG. 8F. (Oversize Stage 2 position). Front of animal has been         secured with head gate window 30. First segment confining gate         13 is used to reduce the area inside main structure by raising         latch pin 18 from receiver 19 and swinging first segment         confining gate 13 across main structure until contact is made         with the animal's body. Confining bar 35 is placed in confining         bar receiver 7 and confining bar clamp 36 is adjusted to hold         first segment confining gate 13 in desired position     -   FIG. 8G (Exit Position). Depiction of first segment confining         gate 13 used as an exit gate, described is FIG. 2. 

The following is claimed:
 1. The Sheep and Goat Confinement Cage is a steel cage with the main structure being of the form of a three dimensional rectangle suited for temporarily confining sheep or goat sized animals for the purposes of administering medicines, deworming, sorting, or providing birthing assistance; a) Said cage having an open bottom so that the confined animal stands on the ground in which the said cage is placed; b) Said cage being built from steel square tubing with space between each square tubing to afford clearance so the operator can access the animal's body between the square tubing placements but with same clearance limited so the animal cannot exit through said square tubing placement; c) Said cage having removable wheels and axel; d) Said cage having a stow location for removable wheels and axel to be placed inside the cage after the cage is placed in the location in which it will be used; e) Said cage having a vertical opening entry gate that can be opened and closed using a rope from a remote location; f) Said cage having three different horizontal swinging exit gates; g) Said cage having an operator controlled head gate consisting of pivoting head gate, operator lever, and latch chain; h) Said cage having a two segmented confining gate, both segments of which swing horizontally toward the inside of the rectangular form of the main structure with one segment also having the ability to also swing outside the rectangular form of the main structure to serve as an additional exit gate; i) Said cage having gravity operated pins and pin receivers to facilitate the opening and latching of all horizontal swing gates; j) Said cage having slide/pin receivers to enable various movements of the segmented confining gate parallel to the main rectangular structure.
 2. The said cage according to claim 1 containing the 1 ^(st) exit door, located on the perimeter of the rectangular main structure opposite from the vertical entry gate, such gate hinged to the corner of the rectangular main structure which is opened and closed by the operator to release animals.
 3. The said 1 ^(st) exit door according to claim 2 having a user operated head gate integral within the exit gate; such integral head gate is opened and closed by moving a lever protruding above the top of the rectangular main structure with such movement enabling the securement of an animal within the front of the main rectangular structure while providing restriction of horizontal movement of the neck of the animal of interest.
 4. Said head gate according to claim 3 having a face gate integral within the head gate that enables additional restriction to be applied to the neck of the animal so that the animal's face can be isolated from moving through the vertical position.
 5. The said cage according to claim 1 having an additional horizontally hinged gate that latches at the front corner of the rectangular main structure on the same side of the rectangular main structure that exit gate #1 is hinged to, such additional hinged gate having the ability to be swung away from the rectangular main structure and serve as exit gate #3 and also to provide access to the animal's body after full immobilization of the animal is accomplished.
 6. The said cage according to claim 1 includes a two segmented confining gate (segment 1 and segment 2) with segment 2 being hinged to the rectangular main structure at the corner of the main structure on the same wall where the 1^(st) exit gate is hinged, with both segment 1 and segment 2 being additionally hinged together between each segment forming one complete side of the rectangular main structure.
 7. The said two segmented confining gate according to claim 6 has the capability to be latched to the rectangular main structure and thus form one of the rigid walls of the rectangular main structure; the two segmented confining gate also has the capability to be un-latched, each segment unlatched separately or both unlatched, and swung toward the inside of the rectangular main structure to reduce the open space of the rectangular main structure; once the two segmented confining gate is swung toward the inside of the rectangular main structure to the desired position, a confining bar and confining bar clamp is used preserve the desired position of the segmented confining gate.
 8. The first segment of the said two segmented confining gate according to claim 6, when unlatched from its normal latched position in the provided pin/slide assembly while leaving the second segment of the confining gate latched in its normal pin/received assembly, has the capability to be swung outside of the rectangular main structure and thus serves as exit gate #2.
 9. The second segment of the two segmented confining gate according to claim 7, when unlatched from its normal latched position in the provided pin/receiver while leaving segment 1 latched in its normal pin/slide assembly enables a limited manipulation of the orientation of both segments of the two segmented confining gate while pushing the animal toward one side of the rectangular main structure; once the desired animal constraint is accomplished, the confining bar and confining bar clamp is used preserve the desired position of the segmented confining gate; although this maneuver does not offer the maximum degree of immobilization, it does offer a fast process for crowding animals when less restraint is acceptable.
 10. The first segment of the two segmented confining gate according to claim 7, when unlatched, has the ability to be swung all the way to the opposite corner of the rectangular main structure where there is an alternate pin/slide assembly; after segment 1 is swung to the opposite corner and latched in the provided alternate pin/slide assembly, segment 2 of the two segment confining gate is also unlatched from its pin/assembly; the resulting configuration enables the hinged union between segment 2 and segment 1 to be moved toward the opposite side of the rectangular main structure; with this configuration, segment 1 is able to accommodate movement only in a direction parallel to the opposite side of the main structure while segment 2 can travel to any position across the rectangular main structure; this feature enables almost unlimited manipulation of the orientation of both segments of the two segmented confining gate while pushing the animal standing inside the confined area toward the head gate according to claim 3; once the desired animal constraint is accomplished, the confining bar and confining bar clamp is used preserve the desired position of the segmented confining gate; because of the limited movement of segment 1, this maneuver facilitates the customization of the inside shape of the rectangular main structure to accommodate the complete crowding of almost any size of animal.
 11. The said two segmented confining gate according to claim 7 has the ability to constrain oversized sheep by using only segment 1 of the two segment confining gate to crowd the animal; once segment 1 of the two segment confining gate is unlatched, it can be swung toward the opposite site of the rectangular main structure and stopped where contact is made with the oversize animal at which time the confining bar and confining bar clamp is used to maintain the desired position of segment 1 of the two segmented confining gate. 